CUTS to Home and Community and Care will disadvantage Ballarat’s most vulnerable, UnitingCare Aged and Disability Services manager Gail Reid has said.
Ms Reid said the agency had lost $13,000 from its budget as part of the 2 per cent cuts across the state.
“We have to reduce the support we give to our volunteers and the service we provide to elderly clients,” Ms Reid said.
“The full funding will come into effect from next year and we will have to cut staff hours which will affect
“If we cut staff hours, it will affect services which will affect clients.”
Ms Reid said she was angry and disappointed at the government for bringing in the cuts.
“I want the people in the community to know these cuts are happening,” she said.
“It is intolerable.”
Ms Reid said the cuts would affect the frail aged and those who have a disability.
“Very vulnerable people in the community will be disadvantaged even more,” she said.
State Member for Ballarat West Sharon Knight said she was increasingly hearing from people across the community about the effects of the
cuts.
“This heartless cut, referred to in correspondence as ‘an adjustment’, will really hurt agencies that provide so much support to people who need a bit of help to stay at home and live a fulfilling life,” Ms Knight said.
“Next financial year, when more ‘adjustments’ occur, there will be staff who will lose their jobs – staff who have worked tirelessly and closely with their clients and who have formed a bond with them.”
A spokesperson for the Minister for Health David Davis said Home and Community Care Services (HACC) were jointly funded by the Victorian and Commonwealth governments.
“The state and commonwealth matched funding for HACC services in Victoria will grow by $44 million in 2012-13 to a total of $584 million,” she said.
neelima.choahan@thecourier.com.au
